[ OFIS ] Student apartment studios in Paris

The guys from OFIS sent us the their latest won competition in Paris, France.

Architect: OFIS arhitekti
Location: Paris, France
Project Year: 2008
Project leaders: Rok Oman & Špela Videčnik
Design Team: Rok Oman, Spela Videcnik, Robert Janez, katja aljaz, Andrej Gregoric, Javier Carrera
Structural Engineering: Matjaz Pilic - Elea IC
Mechanical, Electrical engineering & sustainability: Menerga d.o.o.

Project description and more images after the break.

General Description

The project involves a dormitory with 180 studios on the site of the Stade de Ladoumègue in Paris in 19th district. The plot of the building is part of urban development done by Reichen & Robert architects.
By early 2012, the Paris tram will pass by the site, and the goal is to complete the project before the opening in 2011. Another project goal is to achieve a building consumption with very little power, joining the desire of the city of Paris through its “climate plan”. The major objectives of the project is to design a home to accommodate students able to offer them a healthy environment for study, learn, have fun, meet … The building must be “energy efficient” and be built at the end of 2010. To achieve these objectives with energy performance and construction time table plan the focus was to design a simple, well insulated and ventilated object which will function at best during all seasons.

Architectural, urban and technical proposal

The parcel has a very particular configuration; 11 meters in width and extends about 200 meters long in north-south axis, which foreshadows the importance of processing the eastern facade overlooking the extension of the street of small bridges (des Petits Ponts). In addition, this street will host the tram, a road cyclist and pedestrian walkways. The extension of the street of small bridges also leads to the Canal de l’Ourcq, hence the priority treatment landscaped plot to accompany this urban landscape.

In our case, it is not just a building to integrate into its environment but rather to integrate a piece of street, a facade composed of buildings and landscape.

The residence follows the urban plot which are two blocks divided by sharing landscape garden.
Both parts are organized according to a simple and functional frame for a logical and economic optimization. On ground floor are the lobby, the rooms, common areas opened over the course and some studios (accessible for the disabled). Upstairs are all studios and a terrace.

The plans are organized according to simple management and maintainance. Also the task was to provide students environment of indoor and outdoor quality with creating the meeting places in which each student can feel good and enjoy the indoor and outdoor landscape. Access to the residence is between the 2 buildings. For security and management reasons, there is only one entry. We used the system of horizontal flow; taking into account technical constraints related to sports complex vis-à-vis the main housing openings. The circulations are naturally lit and ventilated, and allowing East-West views.

Studios_concept_sustainability

The residence comprises 192 studios. Studios are accessible to disabled persons on the ground floor. All rooms are equipped with the same principle throughout the residence for better optimization.

There is also studio with two bedrooms on each floor. There are seven in total throughout the building, which used to meet expectations in terms of student housing for couples.

The concept key point is inside the studios: work on light and air quality and spaces.

The accommodations are crossing, allowing for natural light throughout the apartment. The design of housing was thought to offer comfort, brightness and functionality. The layout is rational and allows modularity. The apartments are mechanically ventilated with a double shift VMC. The breakdown by VMC is much more economical and offers students an air and a healthy environment, necessary and vital for the smooth functioning of the individual. The majority of the studios have a unique outdoor space with loggias which are actually an extension of interior spaces. The loggias create intimate outdoor spaces and offer views of the surrounding neighborhoods.

In view of the targets on energy performance, thermal insulation and soundproofing of the building will be extra efficient. The isolation of the project is done by outside isolation 16cm thick, to reduce heat loss. This insulation thickness makes the building very well insulated, while opening large bay front to let maximum light into the apartments. This insulation is of course both thermal and acoustic proof.

The structure of the building next to the wall of the SMR is insulated to prevent heat transfer between the two structures, and of course acoustic insulation for the building site maintenance.

To avoid the problem of thermal bridges of balconies and loggias we integrate the structure of the elements of broken bridges thermal type SCHÖCK. It avoids thermal losses and especially sustainable balance investment costs over time.

The Elevations

The facades will have a major impact on environment because of the length of the plot. The eastern facade of the building looks towards the sport field, and is formed by main entrance gang. The eastern facade is composed of loggias covered in bamboo. They appear on the cover as wooden cocoons and are randomly oriented to diversify the views and rhythm to the facade. The arrangement of the elements creates dynamic surface and breaks the scale of the building at the same time.

The use of bamboo for the loggias has human scale and environmentally approach. The bamboo is environmentally friendly material. The loggias are equipped with bamboo sunscreens to control sunlight on the balconies and interior. Bamboo is also used on the western front as horizontal blade to manage the sunshine of the passageway. At the same time it protects the corridors from the sport field.

The climbing plants will be grown to serve as visual and environmental filters: In summer, the facade will be refreshed by the thickening of the filter plant and in winter the facade work normally, everything perfectly fits into the environment by creating seasonal facades.

The structural composition

The complex consists of two rectangular blocks. The first block dimensions are 30×11m and the second 65×11m. The overall building rises at 29.2 meters.

The building structure is reinforced concrete. Foundations are types of piles, 12 to 15m deep. They are connected by sills. The floors are rational and identical. They are made of reinforced concrete floors on the 2-way and are supported by walls and poles. Both parts of the building have its communication core which serves all floors. All the walls are reinforced with a thickness of 20 cm.

The Landscape

The space between the two parts of the building will be used as a garden, which will have the same functions than Parisian court in function to shift from one building to another, for meeting and relaxation. It will be a common landscape, leaving a visual opening to the garden. The garden is accessible from outside access for fire site of the SMR (magnetic card or key).

The garden located north of the plot has more private character but also provides transparency with the street. It is used as a park on a small scale. Covered in wood, it is a place of relaxation and calmness for students. This may be a place of rest or work. The garden is arranged in levels to respond to the work of art that will be seen from the tram, but also to collect views from the Canal de l’Ourcq or the surroundings with a panorama in altitude.

All green spaces (common and technical) are equipped with automatic sprinkler dropper, which requires less maintenance manager of the residence and consumes much less water.

Accessibility for the disabled

The building was designed to accommodate also disabled people and provide them the best environment. The residence includes more than 10% of homes directly accessible for the disabled (23 units). These accommodations are arranged on ground floor and first floor for easy access and proximity to allow common areas, facilitating the social integration of individuals with reduced mobility